June 2, 2022
LGBTQIA+ Pride Month!
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Click on the Contribute button to help turn Montgomery County Blue!
Please consider becoming a sustaining member at $10 per month (or more!).
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In this issue:
Message from the Chair
How to Get Ready for the State Convention!
Young Democrats
Learn New Skills with the TDP
Candidate Forum
4th of July Parade!
Beto Signs
Beto Letter Writing Campaign
How to Bridge the Great Divide
Biden's Corner
MOCO Activists
March for Our Lives Rally
Surprising History of the TDP
Education Outreach
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Fundraising Volunteers!
Tweets
Shop the Blue Store
Upcoming Party & Community Events
This newsletter is published on or about the 1st and the 15th of every month. Email content for consideration to communications@mcdptx.org no later than 3 days before publication.
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Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters Hours
Hours of operation: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Due to the continuing spread of COVID, our policy now is for staff and visitors to comply with social distancing guidelines. The best way to reach someone at the MCDP headquarters is to call or leave a message at 936-703-5841 or send an email to mcdpoffice@gmail.com. For urgent matters, please text 404-431-6551 or email chair@mcdptx.org outside of office hours.
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Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters
704 N. Thompson St. #195
Conroe, Texas 77301
936-703-5841
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Message from the Chair, Texas Democratic Party |
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May 25, 2022
Mine and Cyndi’s hearts are broken for the Uvalde, TX community. This is an absolute nightmare that has shaken our state and our country. Nineteen children and two teachers were taken at the hands of an individual who should have never had a weapon in the first place.
Our schools should be a safe haven for learning and growth. Yet teachers and children go to school each day fearing for their lives. Parents worry that when they hug their child goodbye, that hug may be their last. To the families and loved ones of the innocent lives lost -- we grieve with you during this incomprehensible tragedy. As a parent and grandparent myself, I cannot begin to fathom the pain you are enduring at this moment.
The fact of the matter is that this tragedy is a direct result of the heartless actions of Texas Republicans. Last legislative session, they passed nineteen new laws loosening gun restrictions in Texas. In the year since then, firearm deaths have skyrocketed in our state, including more than six shootings on school grounds.
Students, community members, and law enforcement officers have been begging Republican lawmakers for common sense gun control for years. And instead of taking action, they choose to stand idly by while children are murdered. The voices of our students should serve as our conscience as we move forward from this unimaginable tragedy.
Tragedies like this will continue to leave Texas families grieving and traumatized until our state starts prioritizing our families, our safety, and our future. Today, we grieve and renew our demand for meaningful, immediate action to end gun violence. Texas families can’t wait any longer.
Sending strength and healing,
Gilberto Hinojosa
Chair, Texas Democratic Party
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How to Get Ready for the State Convention! |
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Update: A day-by-day schedule is now posted on the TDP Convention Website.
Our State Convention — the largest gathering of Democrats in Texas during the midterm election cycle — is from July 14th to July 16th, 2022, in Dallas, Texas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Attending a Convention either as a Delegate or a Visitor is an educational experience that you should not miss.
The window to register as a Delegate is now closed. If you want to attend as a visitor, you may request a guest pass by filling out the form located here.
The Montgomery County Democratic Party is sending ninety-nine delegates to the convention. Delegates should already have been notified by the Texas Democratic Party of confirmation as a delegate. More information is posted on the convention website:
There is no charge for attending the convention either as a delegate or a visitor. Visitors are welcome to attend all meetings and events but cannot vote. Delegates and visitors are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and food costs. The Party has posted information on the Texas Democratic Convention website about how to book lodging in one of their hotel blocks. Please check there for negotiated rates at nearby hotels.
If you have never been a Delegate to the State Convention before, a handy guide has been prepared for you by the Texas Democratic Party. To access this information, go to
Among other topics, the Delegate’s Guide includes a Convention Schedule Overview, information on Accessibility, a Special Interest Caucus Schedule, and even a Glossary of Terms.
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Help Send a Young Democrat to the Convention.
CONTRIBUTE TO OUR YOUNG DEMOCRATS
The Montgomery County Democratic Party has set up a fund to send several Young Democrats to the State Convention in Dallas on July 14 – 16. If you were able to attend our local County Convention you saw some helping with the sound system, running the Powerpoint presentation, working at the Blue Texas Store and the Silent Auction, staffing the food booth, and cleaning up. They are an amazingly talented and energetic group that is reorganizing and building in numbers.
If you would like to help send Montgomery County Young Democrats to the 2022 Convention in State Convention in Dallas, you may do so by donating directly to that fund here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/youngdemsconvention, The money will be strictly earmarked for gas, lodging, and food. We must raise at least $500 to send one young person. With carpooling and shared lodging, $1000 will easily send three.
Please help if you can! The Future is Now.
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Learn New Skills with the Texas Democratic Party! |
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The Texas Democratic Party has created courses for activists, volunteers, campaign staff, and candidates. Many of the courses are designed specifically for precinct chairs who use the VAN program to track voters in their neighborhoods, but the rest of the classes are suitable for all volunteers. The courses are free of charge.
Below is an interactive list of the courses provided.
A great introductory course for new volunteers and for those who want a refresher! Topics covered include, grassroots organizing, staying engaged and hosting events.
An important course on the consequences of and how to avoid harassment in your party, club, campaign, volunteer community, etc. by State Representative Mary González.
In this course, you will learn how to cut a list using TDP Targets and how to cut turf and send your list to MiniVan. By being able to cut lists, cut turf, and send that turf to the minivan, you will be able to set up a block walk and power your voter contact.
This course is meant to be an introduction to cyber security best practices for candidates, campaign staffers, volunteers, and all of the Texas Democratic Party's progressive allies.
Everything you need to know to become a volunteer texting pro! Take this course and you'll be ready to text.
Learn about starting your digital campaign with this great training. This course reviews how to send out emails, set up your social media account and how to set digital goals. Great for candidates, and those interested in working on & with campaigns.
Videos, handouts, and pamphlets that review donor prospecting and identification, and candidate fundraising. Also an overview on how to draft a campaign budget.
This course focuses on tools and techniques that help candidates, activists and party members better understand the importance of inclusivity.
Learn the basics of organizing and getting involved for this cycle! A great place to start for those looking to get involved.
A starter course for beginner and intermediate VAN users. Focusing on: Creating Scripts, Targets & Using Targets to Make Lists, Advanced List Cutting, Sending Turf to MiniVAN, and Creating & Distributing a Virtual Phone Bank.
A course for VAN users with administrative access (County Chairs, Candidates, VAN Directors, etc.) on how to add users, troubleshoot common issues and other issues related to the administration of VAN.
A compilation of materials and resources for volunteers and activists
Learning Path
A learning pathway for Precinct Chairs and Precinct Organizers that includes: an overview of their role(s); VAN 101 training; and an introduction to volunteering and activist training.
Learning Path
Take our three Voter Activation Network (VAN) Courses in ascending order to make sure you know what you need to use the Democratic Party's powerful voter database.
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Texas has new political maps. See which districts your home is in.
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Volunteer Opportunity
Once again, the Montgomery County Democratic Party is celebrating the Fourth of July by participating in the annual parade in The Woodlands on Monday, July 4th, 2022. We need YOUR help planning and preparing to make this a fun and successful event.
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We need people to:
Donate Decorate Drive
Participate in the parade and have a great time representing the Democratic Party of Montgomery County!
Please contact Kim Valdez, Parade Chair
at (714) 600-0545 or education@mcdptx.org
to join us!
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Beto Letter Writing Campaign
Beto has a strong letter-writing campaign going on now. Go here to sign up for an online Letter Writing Party. It’s fun and easy and it can be done when you have the time. All letters will be mailed on October 19th - the goal is to reach voters before the election to get out the vote. Join the hundreds participating in the effort and make a real difference.
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Looking for Ways to Bridge the Great Divide?
One of our readers, Charlie Lindahl, shared information about this group which is dedicated to doing just that. Check out Braver Angels to learn about their work and consider joining their effort.
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BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CORNER ! |
Department of Justice to Investigate Police Response to Uvalde shootings
The mayor of Uvalde has requested the DOJ investigate the horrible massacre in Uvalde and the police response.
“The goal of the review is to provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses that day, and to identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events,” Anthony Coley, a spokesperson for the U.S. Justice Department, wrote in a statement Sunday.
Read the full Texas Tribune article here.
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It’s Time to March for our Lives Again
Sad but true. Please sign up to rally and march on June 11, 2022. Go to https://marchforourlives.com/march22/ and register for a march near you. There are also many other ways you can become involved. Please let our youth know they have full support.
IMPORTANT! PLEASE CLICK & READ
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As part of her presentation last week, on the structure of the Democratic Party in Texas, Mary Hamm, our SDEC District 4 Chairwoman, provided interesting information on the history of the Party in Texas. She noted that forty-five individuals have served as Governor of Texas since the inception of statehood, and of those, only four have been Republican. Mary's Final Friday presentation can be viewed here.
Despite that amazing record that extends from 1846 to the present, the main struggles have been within the Democratic Party itself. In the early years, issues such as States rights, the Civil War, the Reconstruction era, the rise of the Whig and “Know-Nothing” Parties, the need for agrarian reform, and the rise of the women’s suffrage movement split the party. In later years, racism, the KKK, anti-Catholicism, the New Deal, the rise of the power of the oil and gas interests of wealthy Texans, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and many other State and National issues continued to divide the Democratic Party. In fact, since the early 20th century, according to the article by the independent Texas State Historical Association on the Democratic Party cited below, it seems like the whole history of the Party has been a struggle between the “progressive wing” and the “stand-pat wing” of the Texas Democratic Party that has, over time, contributed to the rise of the Republican Party within the State.
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In case you missed it here is a link to Mary's Presentation:
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Editorial on The Dismantling of Public Education in Texas
In his latest attempt to dismantle public education in Texas, Governor Abbott has decided it might be time to challenge the 1982 supreme court decision which provided free, public education to undocumented children in grades K-12. This 5-4 decision stated that the Texas legislation was in violation of the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. Unlike the 1973 landmark Roe vs. Wade decision, Plyler vs. Doe has been codified into federal law, making it more difficult to challenge. At a time ripe with opposition to long-held supreme court decisions, Abbott seems to be seizing the moment.
The 1982 Plyler vs. Doe ruling struck down the 1975 Texas law that refused to allow state funds to be spent on children who had entered the United States illegally and permitted public school districts in Texas to deny admission to those students. He stated in an interview with conservative radio host, Joe Pagliarulo, “The expenses are extraordinary, and the times are different from when the decision came down.” Abbott further believes that states should be able to manage their own immigration policies, a concept the supreme court has ruled states have no right to do. Failing this, Abbott believes the federal government should pay for the education of all undocumented K-12 students.
This landmark case began in 1977 when Tyler ISD removed students who were not able to provide evidence of legal residence. They were given the option of paying $1,000 per student tuition, which was unaffordable to the mostly migrant farmworker families. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) filed the federal lawsuit anonymously on behalf of four families whose children were excluded from public school in Tyler because of their immigration status. They ultimately won the four-year battle which ended in the supreme court decision now known as Plyler vs. Doe.
Plyler vs. Doe also prohibited school districts from discouraging enrollment or intimidating families by asking about their immigration status. They further were not allowed to share any family information with officials for the purpose of locating undocumented family members. Although Plyler vs Doe was a 5-4 decision, all nine justices agreed that attempting to collect tuition for a public school was bad public policy.
Texas is not alone in the attempt to restrict access to public education for immigrant children. California passed proposition 187 in 1994 creating a statewide system to screen for citizenship. Non-citizens, both adults, and children would have been denied health care except on an emergency basis, enrollment in public K-12 schools, and other state services in CA. This proposition was quickly challenged and deemed unconstitutional.
In his zeal to think up new ways to attack public education and rally his base, Governor Abbott mistakenly referenced Plyler vs. Doe as protecting the rights of the children of undocumented parents, but it does not. Many children of undocumented parents are, in fact, United States-born citizens. He seems to have missed this fact, or perhaps he is unaware of the very American tradition that people are judged on their own merit or folly, not that of their parents.
Editorial submitted by
Kimberly Valdez
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The Fundraising Committee Hard At Work |
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CHECK OUT OUR NEW SHIRTS AND MERCH!! |
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WE HAVE THE YARD SIGNS!
Beto yard signs are available for a $20 donation and pick up at MCDPTX Headquarters.
Call us to reserve yours today.
936-703-5841
email: mcdpoffice@gmail.com
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Wednesday, June 8 at 6:30 pm there will be an Election Debrief for the Primary Run-off.
It will be an in-person meeting at HQ. Everyone is welcome but Election Judges and Clerks are especially invited to share their Election experience.
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Event Calendar - For more details, click on the image and follow link to the MCDPTX.org website; click on the date to view event.
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Other Groups & Community Events: |
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Saturday, June 4 2022
Grogan's Mill Village Center
7 Switchbud Pl
The Woodlands, TX 77380
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IMMIGRATION CLINIC REOPENS - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! - Lorena Perez McGill |
Can you help?
- Legal consultation
- Set up, clean up, organize
- Speaker
Third Thursdays
5:00 to 9:00pm
24803 Oakhurst Dr. 77386
Questions and Information:
contact Lorena Perez McGill at
email or 202-294-4473.
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Thursday, JUNE 16 – WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD, 6:00pm, 2801 Technology Forest Bl. 77381
Wednesday, JUNE 22 – WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD, 6:00pm, 2801 Technology Forest Bl. 77381
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Paid for by the Montgomery County Texas Democratic Party, www.mcdptx.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. |
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